Fence post with bracing



P 8, 1954 F. N. G. KRANICK FENCE POST WITH BRACING 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed June 12 1950 IN VE N TOR P 28, 1954 F. N. e. KRANICK FENCE POST WITH BRACING Filed June 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/vvE/vToR FRA NK N G. KRAN/CK ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENCE POST WITH BRAOING Frank N. G. Kranick, Racine, Wis.

Application June 12, 1950, Serial No. 167,603

6 Claims. 1

' The present invention relates to fences and to post structures thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fence post structure of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction adapted to form either a gate post or a corner post.

Another object is to provide a fender-forming gate post which is so arranged as to avoid damage thereto if struck by a passing farm wagon or other vehicle, and also to minimize damage to the vehicle.

Still other objects are to provide a gate post having improved gate hinging means so arranged as to avoid damage to the gate and the hinge parts by a passing vehicle when the gate is open; and to provide a companion gate post with improved latching means which is protected against damage by the passing vehicle.

A further object is to provide a fence construction including improved post-bracing means for resisting the tension of stretched fencing.

A still further object is to perfect details of construction generally.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

, In the accompanying drawings, illustrating certain embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a gated farm fence constructed in accordance with the invention, parts of a gate post being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the gated portion of the fence, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view of a corner portion of the fence;

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation of a frame connection;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation of another frame connection;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view of a gate post and associated parts;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the companion gate post and the adjacent portion of the latched gate, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally on the line t--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken generally on the line ill-l of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken generally on the line ll--I| of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken generally on the line l2l2 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, of a modified form of frame connection, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the frame connection of Fig. 13.

In the drawings, 20, 2|, and 22 designate a plurality of fence posts, the posts 20 and 2| being end posts and forming spaced gate posts with a gateway 23 between them, Figs. 1 and 2, and the post 22 forming a corner post, Fig. 3. Each of these posts comprises a metal angle bar of troughshaped cross-section including vertical side flanges 24 of substantial width converging to a rounded vertical corner portion or edge portion 25, the lower end of each post being suitably anchored or embedded in the ground. In some instances, the posts may be anchored in concrete 26. The angle bar flanges 24 are preferably fiat and extend at right angles to each other. In a typical post for a farm fence each angle bar flange may have a width of the order of 8 inches, although this width may vary according to requirements. The flanges 24 are rigidly connected by welded horizontal gusset or cross plates 21, one near the top of the post and another near the ground line. Each gusset plate has a central guide opening 28 and two additional guide openings 29 which are near the angle bar flanges and are arranged at opposite sides of the opening 28, all the openings being circular and of the same diameter. The purpose of these openings is hereinafter set forth.

The rounded vertically extending corner portions 25 of the spaced hollow gate posts 20 and 2| define the opposite sides of the gateway 23, and the flanges or walls 24 of each post extend at about 45 to the plane of the gateway and form fenders which converge toward the gateway. These fender-forming flanges or walls are adapted to resist the accidental impact of a passing farm wagon or other vehicle and provide a camming or glancing action, which will cause the vehicle to be urged toward the gateway and minimize damage to the vehicle.

The gateway is normally closed by movable gate means here shown to comprise a gate member 3:! which is pivotally carried at one end on the gate post 20 and has a suitable latching engagement with the gate post 2|, as hereinafter described. The gate is here shown to comprise a generally rectangular pipe frame of a conventional type with vertical end bars 3| and 32 and carrying wire fence fabric 33.

The gate post 20 has upper and lower notches or openings 34 cut in its corner portion to admit swingalble hinge members 35 which are rigidly 3 Secured to the adjacent vertical end bar 3| of the gate. Each hinge member 35 comprises a metal strap 35 reversely bent to form eyes 31 and 38 at opposite ends, the eye 38 rigidly embracing the gate end bar 3! and being secured thereto as by a bolt 39, and the eye 37 rigidly embracing a metal socket member 40, such as of chilled iron. The flat intermediate portions of the metal strap are secured together as by a rivet 4!. The socket member 4a is of generally cylindrical shape and has a downwardly opening conically formed socket 42 and a closed protective top wall 43 with a lubricant fitting 44. The

socket member further has an annular bottom flange 45 on which rests the lower edge of the eye 31, and relative rotation of the socket member and eye 37 is prevented by a vertical rib All formed on the socket member. Stationary flanged hinge brackets 47, such as of malleable iron, fit within the hollow gate post 20 near the lower edges of the notches 34, and are detachably secured to the inner vertical surface of the post as by bolts 43 passing through openings 49 in the post flanges, each bracket having an upstanding conically formed chilled pintle 5G fitting in the correspondingly shaped socket of the associated socket member 40. In mounting the gate, the hinge members 35 thereof are inserted into the post notches 34, and the pintle brackets M are then displaced upwardly to seat in the socket members, whereupon the brackets are rigidly bolted in place. By this arrangement, the vertical dimension of each post notch need be only slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the socket member. The upper gusset plate is cut away near the corner portion of the post for access to the upper lubricant fitting.

The gate is firmly supported by the hinge connections and is smoothly and easily swingable tov open and closed positions. The gate may be swung to open position in either direction, as shown in Fig. 9, and preferably in a direction away from the approaching vehicle. When the gate is, in open position, the rounded corner portion 25 of the gate post 25 projects beyond the plane of the open gate, thus avoiding damage to the gate and the hinges by a passing vehicle and also minimizing damage to the vehicle.

The companion gate post, 2|, is provided in its corner portion with a latch-receiving notch 5|, Figs. 8 and 11. A horizontal gusset plate 52 is welded within the post at the lower edge of the notch and is provided with an upstanding tongue 53. A collar 54 is pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the vertical end bar 32 of the gate member and is provided with a lug 55 at the inner side of the bar carrying a transversely extending horizontal pivot pin 56. A forked latch lever 5'1 straddling the gate bar 32 is pivoted on the pin 56 to swing in a vertical plane and has a forked free end 58. adapted to straddle the tongue 53 to hold the gate in closed position. The forked latch lever end 58 has cam surfaces 59, Fig. 12, adapted to ride up on the tongue during the final closing travel of the gate. The downward displacement of the gravity-closed latch lever is limited by the collar 54, and the latch lever is manually lifted to release the gate. As the latching tongue 53 is well within the gate post 21, there is no dangerof damage by a passing vehicle. For convenience in manufacture and for interchangeability the angle bars forming the gate posts 20 and 2| are preferably made identical, each having the notches 3.4 and St.

The fence is here shown to include stretched wire fencing 6B which is fastened in any conven-- tional manner. With this type of fencing it is desirable to provide auxiliary bracing means associated with each gate post. The bracing means comprises one or more bracing frames 6| disposed in the plane of the fence, two tandemconnected frames being preferred. Each frame consists of spaced vertical end legs or bars 62 and 63, the upper ends of which are connected by a diagonal bracing bar 84 sloping downwardly away from the gate post. The frame bars are preferably formed of metal tubing. The lower ends of the tubular frame legs are anchored or embedded in the ground. Each long frame leg 62 is, slightly longer than the gate post and each short frame leg 63 projects a short distance above the ground and has a top closure member 55, Fig. 4. A cap fitting 66 is pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper end of each long frame leg 82 and has one or more lateral apertured lugs 61. A connector fitting 68 is bolted, pinned, or otherwise secured to the upper end portion of each short frame leg and has one or more lateral apertured lugs 69. Each diagonal frame bar 64 has end fittings ill pinned or otherwise rigidly secured at opposite ends and provided with apertured end lugs H, which are secured by bolts E2 to the lugs of the fittings 63 and 68 of the end legs. The long leg 62 of one bracing frame extends through the central gusset plate openings 28, of the gate post, the cap fitting thereofbeing slightly above the upper gusset plate. The'long leg of the second bracing frame extends adjacent to the short leg of the first frame and is secured thereto by the pinned connector fitting 68 and by a second fitting or clamp 13 near the ground line. The clamp; 53 is here shown to be formed by complementary halves secured together by a bolt l4 extending between the adjacent frame legs. The short leg of the second frame extends adjacent to a conventional fence post or line post i5 and is secured thereto by the associated connector fittings 68 and 13. By this construction the tension on the stretched fencing is adequately resisted.

Beyond the line post 15 the fence is of conventional construction except for corner post structures, one of which is shown in plan view in Fig. 3. Each post 22, when used as a corner post, has its flanges 24 extending parallel to the respective lines of fencing and is preferably braced along each fence line by one or more bracing frames 6|. The arrangement is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the long legs of the adjacent bracing frames extend vertically through the side openings 29 of the corner post gusset plates. The corner post and its bracing eliminates the need for concrete anchors or dead men, and the fence can be placed close to a boundary line without encroachment. The angle bar forming the corner post is preferably identical with the gate posts for convenience in manufacture and to provide interchangeability.

While each legged bracing frame 6! is preferably formed of several connected members as shown, this frame may in some instances have its parts integrally connected In Figs; 1 and 2', each bracing frame is'shown to extend in the central vertical planeof the associated gate post, but the frame may'extend at various angles to this plane.

Themodified form of bracing frame connection shown in Figs. 13 and 14 includes a tubular vertical leg member 62', the upper end of which is closed by a cap or plug 15'" driven or pinned in place. The leg member 62' is here shown to be mounted in the gate post 20. A metal strap 66' is clamped about the upper end of the leg member 62 above the gate post and is provided with lugs 87 connected by a clamping bolt 78-. In some instances the strap may also be pinned in place. The bracing frame also includes an inclined tubular bracing bar 64, the upper end of which carries an end fitting or plug 70' pinned in place. The other end of the inclined bracing bar carries a similar fitting or plug, not shown, for attachment to the connector fitting 68 on the short leg of the frame member. The plug has a lug H which is disposed between the strap lugs 67 and is secured thereto as by a bolt 12. The bracing frame shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is otherwise the same as those shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fence, a hollow metal gate post having a vertical portion adapted to form a side of a gateway and further having fender-forming outer wall surfaces converging toward said portion, said vertical portion having an opening therethrough adapted to admit into the post a movable hinge portion of a swingable gate, said hollow post having a vertical inner wall surface, and a hinge bracket for the gate rigidly secured to said vertical inner wall surface adjacent to said opening and having a vertical hinge axis within said post.

2. In a fence, a fence post comprising an upright metal bar of trough-shaped cross-section having converging vertical walls, an upwardly facing cross member rigidly connecting the opposite inner walls of said trough-shaped bar and having a plurality of laterally spaced upwardly facing openings spaced from said inner walls, and a vertical frame bar selectively passing through said openings.

3, In a fence, a fence post comprising an upright meta1 bar of trough-shaped cross-section, vertically spaced upwardly facing cross plates rigidly connecting the opposite inner walls of said post and having aligned upwardly facing openings, and a vertical frame bar passing through said aligned openings.

4. In a fence, a vertical fence post having a lower portion adapted to be embedded in the ground, said post having an upwardly facing guide opening adjacent to its upper end, and a bracing frame for said post disposed in a substantially vertical plane and having vertical first and sec- 0nd end legs and an inclined brace bar pivotally connecting the upper portions of said legs, the higher end of said inclined bar being connected to the upper portion of said first leg, and said first leg fitting in said uide opening to resist lateral deflection of said post.

5. In a fence, a vertical fence post having a lower portion adapted to be embedded in the ground, said post havin an upwardly facing guide opening adjacent to its upper end, and a bracing frame for said post disposed in a substantially vertical plane and having vertical first and second end legs and an inclined brace bar pivotally connecting the upper portions of said legs, the higher end of said inclined bar being connected to the upper portion of said first leg, and said first leg fitting in said guide opening to resist lateral defiection of said post, and a second similar bracing frame disposed in tandem to said first frame and substantially in the plane of said first frame, the first leg 01" said second frame bein attached to the second leg of said first frame.

6. In a fence, a hollow metal corner post, vertically spaced horizontal plates secured to said post and having aligned openings therein adjacent to said post, and bracing frames disposed in substantially vertical planes at an angle to ach other and having vertical end legs extending in said plate openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15,881 Fenn Oct. 14, 1856 88,108 Wolfgang et al. Mar 23, 1869 1 0,484 Bovey Oct. 31, 1871 162,800 Colwell May 4, 1875 531,899 Bowers Jan. 1, 1895 557,669 Guthrie Apr. 7, 1896 1,214,623 Weber Feb. 6, 1917 1,224,325 Rowe May 1, 1917 1,252,569 Henning Jan. 8, 1918 1,290,769 Marquis Jan. 7, 1919 1,394,479 Ewald et al. Oct. 18, 1921 1,408,506 Hensley Mar. '7, 1922 1,504,494 Parsons Aug. 12, 1924 1,540,490 Mertel June 2, 1925 1,981,447 Clark Nov. 20, 1934 2,147,496 Nelson Feb. 14, 1939 2,222,249 Borger Nov. 19, 1940 

